Wallabies v England November 1

[rugbyAU]

For all we know, Schmidt is waiting to see if Lukhan Salakaia-Loto & Carter Gordon ( & possibly others) are fit to play, and needs this last practice session in the UK to make decisions. This is more important than satisfying the whims of vocal fans in Aussi who want a rugby fix before they go to bed.

doran confirmed last night LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was starting and Gordon wasn't playing

 

[Major Tom]

I guess my beef with Schmidt is that Noah was his main man and was injured. Donno was back up in Fiji Test. And Noah had played some 30 starting Tests and didnt nail it. Then Schmidt rightly or wrongly picks Lynagh as his starting 10 for the Lions with Donno as back up. That was a big call in my book. Then Lynagh out and JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) called in to start in South Africa with Donno back up again but Donno gets injured. Then in comes old mate Edmed and he is hardly killing it. Donno gets better and is still not wanted for games v Argentina or All Blacks. Then gets brushed for this tour by Edmed and Gordon who, lets face it had his moments but has been injured most of his NRL stint, hasn't played a game of rugby for a long time and is injured again now on tour. So Donno goes from 2nd in 10 ranks to 6 if you count Hamish Stewart filling in so far and probably v England as well. You'd understand totally if all these guys are WAY better than Donaldson but they are not. I would have thought this tour was a chance for Donaldson to start all Tests as 10 to see how he goes with mostly full games. Yet it looks like Edmed will get that chance ... and he wasn't rated at the Tahs. Then there is Declan Meredith who I rate and he may be starting 10 at the Brums next year. I know it's a touchy subject but I just feel for Donaldson as he played off the bench well v Fiji and the Lions. Now not wanted. Harsh in my book.

Lots of chopping and changing tells me that Schmidt hasn’t locked anyone in. I don’t think selection is ever that straight forward. Well not for our 10s. They’re all have their deficiencies which is annoying and makes it impossible for guys to be a lock.
He’s indicated that he wants Donno to improve defensively. I don’t know when he saw this or picked up on this but I guess he can’t really select him until he’s proven to have fixed that. Brutal but I guess it’s the standard he wants to instil in the 10s. If we lose the game on the weekend it won’t be because Donno didn’t play or Tane did or Stewart had to step into flyhalf. It’ll be our defence, plain and simple. That and maybe our ability to defuse the high ball. I have more confidence with Carter because offers something none of our other 10s, size and athleticism.

 

[Dctarget]

Weird, the team is being announced at 9:30pm for me... Cry harder that the World doesn't revolve around you East Coast Losers!! Up the ACST Gang!

 

[Spamnoodle]

What's it really matter? Watch the game and you'll see who's playing. Hardly expecting any big surprises.

You're starting to sound more like Marvin the Robot than Yoda.
Of course we get no surprises, Doran has to get the scoops in to keep relevant.

 

[dru]

If we lose the game on the weekend it won’t be because Donno didn’t play or Tane did or Stewart had to step into flyhalf.

You don't actually know that. After the Japan game, I would have thought a little organisation and connection through the back-line might be something we might be thinking about here.

Not that I disagree with your assessment on either D or the high ball.

 

[Sully]

This is a match thread. Talk of players not in consideration to play will be deleted from now on.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Saturday afternoon forecast in London is cold and wet. Perfect weather to send some Poms off home miserable

 

[Yoda]

Saturday afternoon forecast in London is cold and wet. Perfect weather to send some Poms off home miserable

Beauty. More pick and drive city and unlimited Jake Gordon bombs! Hope Jorgo touches the ball from broken play because he won't see it otherwise!

 

[Slim 293]

doran confirmed last night LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was starting and Gordon wasn't playing

Oh, he confirmed it?

Does that make it official and can in no way not be correct now?